On February 28, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU) took part in the "Transnational Education Dialogue" event, organized by the British Council as part of the "Going Global Partnership" program.
The event aimed to promote the development of transnational education (TNE), share best practices in research, innovation, and technology transfer, and explore cooperation prospects for the future of higher education in Azerbaijan. It brought together distinguished representatives and experts not only from Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom but also from other foreign countries.
It should be noted that starting in 2024, the British Council has initiated research to assess the current state of transnational education in Azerbaijan, identify opportunities and challenges, and provide insights into this area. The research is being conducted in collaboration with the global higher education data company, Times Higher Education (THE), which has extensive experience in evaluating university performance. The British Council’s Country Director for Azerbaijan, Nargiz Hajiyeva, highlighted that the purpose of this study is to shed light on both regional and local TNE traditions, explore modern trends, and promote the internationalization policies of universities and governments. The findings of the research, launched last year, were presented to a broad audience at the Transnational Education Dialogue by Nilgün Yalçın, Manager of the British Council’s Global Research Department.
As part of efforts to strengthen transnational education cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom, the event also featured presentations on Uzbekistan’s and Azerbaijan’s experiences in this field.
During the event, ASOIU’s Rector, Assoc. Prof. Rufat Azizov, delivered a presentation on the international Dual Degree Program (DDP) in "Renewable Energy ", launched in the 2023/2024 academic year in collaboration with the University of Warwick within the framework of the State Program on Increasing the International Competitiveness of Azerbaijan’s Higher Education System for 2019–2023. He emphasized the program’s pioneering role in the development of transnational education in Azerbaijan. The rector noted that this collaboration with Warwick University significantly contributes to Azerbaijan’s transnational education landscape and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also highlighted improvements in students' academic achievements, employability rates, and a shift in gender balance in favour of female students across admission years.
Rector Azizov further stressed that the collaboration between ASOIU, a higher education institution with over a century of history and expertise in energy technologies, and Warwick University, ranked among the top ten universities in the UK and placed 69th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, is not a coincidence. He emphasized that the partnership is built on mutual trust and shared objectives, positioning it as a model initiative within Azerbaijan’s transnational education framework.
Following this, Gareth Roberts, Strategic Development Director of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and a foreign member of the DDP Steering Committee, delivered a presentation outlining the program’s innovative curriculum, goals, and progress achieved so far. He pointed out that despite differences and challenges in the educational processes of both partner universities, these factors have not hindered the program's implementation but have instead contributed positively to its execution. Emphasizing the role of trust in successful collaborations, he stated: "Such a large-scale partnership would not have been possible without strong mutual trust." He concluded by reiterating that reciprocal respect and confidence form the foundation of the Dual Degree Program’s success, and that expanding such collaborations remains a priority for Warwick University.
The event continued with a dynamic Q&A session, followed by a networking segment, fostering discussions on the development of global partnerships in education and the future directions of transnational education initiatives.
